Le'Veon Bell will consider leaving Michigan State for NFL after trying to finish season 'off right'

"The opportunity is there, but I haven't really thought about it" -- Bell

Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell leads the Big Ten in rushing and admits "the opportunity is there" when contemplating a jump to the NFL.AP Photo

EAST LANSING — Le'Veon Bell smirked, not as if he knew the answer, but the question certainly didn't catch him off guard.

While some focus is on Michigan State's senior class heading into Saturday's home finale against Northwestern, might Bell, a junior leading the Big Ten in rushing, also be playing in his final game at Spartan Stadium?

"It possibly could be. The opportunity is there, but I haven't really thought about it," Bell said. "I just want to make sure to finish this season off right, and then see where I'm at."

Bell sits atop the conference with 1,249 rushing yards with a league-high 283 carries through 10 games. He's topped 200 yards twice this season and has done his work behind an offensive line that's been hampered by injuries.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, Bell may not possess the breakaway speed of some NFL backs, but he has other intangibles scouts crave: vision, good hands and the ability to pick up blitzes and protect his quarterback.

Comparisons have been made to St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, who is closing in on 10,000 career rushing yards and has at least 40 receptions in six of his eight NFL seasons.